Lift



10, 1940. I. c. THOMPSON Em 2.224529 LIFT Filed May '31, 1940 5Sheets-Sheet 1 TI" III i /%v ATTORN 5.

Dec. 10, 1940.v c. THOMPSON E-T'AL 2,224,529v

LIFT Filed May 31, 194p s Sheets-Sheet 2 i k) Wm Q I kg f L R lATTORNEYfi.

1940- I I. c. THOMPSON arm. 2.2243529 LIFT Filed May 31, 1940 5Sheets-Sheet 4 will ill .136 1/6 I l N;- 70 I I 32 0 1 105 I 1NVENT 111476 /Z0 ZP l. c. THOMPSON ETAL LIFT Dec. 10, 1940.

Filed May 31, 19 40 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR5. Zruuzg C 7720 D5072, BYifisiZC/s V m fizz/m,

I ATTO Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES LIFT Irving 0. Thompson,Cadillac, Mich, and Frederick W. Sturm, Fort Wayne, Ind.'; said Sturmassignor to The Wayne Pump Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation ofMaryland Application May 31, 1940, Serial No. 337,972

10 Claims. (01. 254-144) This invention pertains to vehicle lifts forhoists.

' It is an object of this invention to provide a lift which can beinstalled without the necessity of digging a foundation therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lift which isinexpensive to make and maintain, and fulfills all requirements ofmanufacture and service.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lift-wherein onlya unidirectional motor need be used, and one having safety devices tomaintain the lift in any position and to prevent too rapid lowering ofsaid lift.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lift comparable to aso-called four post lift but which takes up a minimum of floor room andheight.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more,fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification,drawings andclaims pended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an"embodi ment of the device, andwherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts-Figure 1 is a top plan view of a lift or hoist embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the lift shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation takensubstantially in the plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

' Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation takensubstantially in the plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged end elevation, partly in section, of theoperating mechanism for the lift, the same looking toward the right asviewed in Figure 2; V

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially in theplane asindicatedby the line 66 of Figure 5; c

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation takensubstantially in the plane as indicated by the line 1--1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view taken substantially inthe plane as indicated by the line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged end elevation of one of the operating pulleysfor the lift, the same showing the centrifugal brake;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional Bipelevation takensubstantially in the plane as indicated by the line llllll of Figure 9.

"The; lift or hoist illustrated is of the so-called free-wheel type,though of course it is to be understood that a roll-on-type of hoist maybe used, and, although no chocks are shown as applied to this free-wheeltype of lift, it is of course understood that suitable chocks are usedin this type ofliftr The lift consists essentially of the front trackmembers, rear track members, a carriage and operating means therefor,and, in the embodiment shown, the front track members comprise a pair ofspaced frames 26. Each of said frames is formed of the base members 22connected to a vertical member 24, said vertical member being suitablyconnected to a track member'26 which, in the embodiment shown, may beconveniently formed of a channel. Each track member 26 is formed with asloping portion 28 and the upper slightly sloping portion 30, andvertical and horizontal braces 32 and 34 may be provided between thebase, vertical and track members. 'The portions 30 may conveniently befrom 5? to 7 from the horizontal.

The carriage 36 includes the forward transverse inverted angular member38 over which the wheels of the vehicleto be lifted are adapted to berolled, and axle members 40 and 42 are provided for accommodating therollers 44 adapted preferably being provided with guards 48, the upperflanges 50 of which overlap the rollers 44.

The spaced longitudinally extending beams 52 are secured to thetransverse member '38 by means of the brackets 54. The rearv ends of thebeams 52 are provided with the journals 56 and 58 through which the axle60 extends. of the axle are provided with the rollers 62 adapted to bereceived inthe channel shaped The ends tracks64 of the rear trackframes, said rear track frames being preferably spaced apart a distanceless than the tread of ordinary vehicles,

such as automobiles.

The track members 64 are similar to the track members 26, each havingthe sloping portion 66 5 9 tovbe received'in the spaced tracks 26, thetracks pulleys 16 maintained in fixed position between the innerjournals 58 by the spacing tube 18.

The uprights 10 and 12 form means for supporting the operatingmechanism, and said uprights are suitably secured adjacent the topsthereof by means of the transverse brace member 80, and are securedadjacent the bases thereof by the brace member 8|. The brace member 80is provided with the spaced fastening means 82 which, in the embodimentshown, are eye bolts to which one end of the cables 84 are secured, saidcables passing downwardly and around the pulleys 16, and thence back tobe secured at their other ends to the tracked or spiral jdrums 85non-rotatably mounted on the shaft.

A safety latch 80 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 88, being positionedthereon by means of the spaced collars 88, and said latch is providedwith the handhold or handle 92 and the hooked end 94 adapted to latchthe carriage 36 by engagement with the tube 18 when the :roll'ers'62have been moved on to the portions 68 ;of the tracks 66. The latch mayalso be provide'dwith the stop'zfifi adapted to engage the'bracemember80 to. prevent; the latch .from falling to 1a position where it cannotautomatically engage the :memberi18. The latch 90 ispreferably providedwith the;s1oping portion 91 adapted toibe engaged'by the sleeve 18 formoving the latch upwardly when it is'.being moved to.lat'chengagingposition.

'Hresh'aftBS is provided with the gear 98., meshing with the gear I00non-rotatably mounted on thexshaftzIliZ. 'The shaft. I02 isnon-rotatably provided with the gear. I04 meshing with the gear I06non-rotatably mounted on the shaft I08. The shafts .88, I02"and I08 aresuitably'journaled as at! L09, -I'I0.and II2 respectively, on theuprights 10.and:12. The shaft I08 is provided witha hand wheel I I4adapted to rotate the'shaft I08 for the purpose to bemorefully'described later.

"Thexshaft I08 is non-rotatably provided with theratchet II6 adjacentthe upright 10. The pawl .I :I8is pivoted to the shaft I02 and isadapted to be moved to' engage the ratchet I IE to prevent clockwisemovement of the shaft I08 as viewed in Figure 7. The pawl H8 is providedwith the handhold I25 and the locking member I22 pivoted to the pawlasat I24, an extension I26' thereof being provided with the locking ledgeI28 adapted '50 to engage one flange of the upright 10 to maintain thepawl :in inoperative position. A spring I30 is provided to urge themember I28 toward locking position. It will thus be seen that it is onlynecessary to move the locking memberl22 toward the handhold I20 aboutthe pivot I24:to

release the locking ledge I28 from locking position to permit the pawl.II8 to be dropped into engagement with the ratchetI I6.

The shaft IIIB- also is provided with the brake drum I32, and the'bandbrake I34 is disposed around said brake drum, said band brake beinganchored 'as at I36 and I38 tothe operating 'lever I 40 pivoted as atI42 to the upright 10. This hand brake may be used to check or arrestdownward movement of the carriage-36. The shaft I88 may be provided withthe'so'cket I44 with a reception of a hand crank 146 for operating theliftin emergencies, and said shaft is non-rotatably provided-with thepulley I48 connected by the belt I58with the pulley I52 provided on theoperating 'shaftcof the motor I54, said motor being supported on theupright 10.

The motor I54 is electrically 'connected'through a suitable conduit I 56to the switch I58, and said 75 switch is electrically connected to aSuitable source of supply (not shown) through the conduit I60. Theswitch I58 is provided with the operating lever I62 for opening andclosing said switch, and said lever IE2 is provided with the resilientextension I64 extending upwardly in the path of the axle I50 wherebyengagement by said axle in moving the carriage 36 on raised position 68will move the member I64 to open the switch.

The stationary brake drum I66 is secured as at I68 to the upright 10 andis disposed concentrically with the shaft I88. The pulley I48 is b'ossedas at I10 and the shaft I12 is journaled therein. The shaft I12 isnon-rotatably provided with the centrifugal lever I14 having theweighted end I16.extending-inwardly toward the shaft I88, the end beingbifurcated to embrace said shaft. The lever I 14 is urged in a clockwisedirection, as

viewedin Figure 9, by means of a spring I 18, one

end of said spring being secured as at I to the pulley, the other end ofsaid spring being secured as .at I84 toithe lever, the head of theleverbeing provided with a rubber block I85 for cushioning the *headagainstthecentral hubof the pulley. Theinnerend of the shaft- I12 isnon-rotatably provided with the lever, I88 loosely pivoted as at I90 tothe brake shoe 4-92 disposed to have braking cooperationwiththebrake'drum I66 upon a predetermined speed of rotation of the pulleyI48 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 19, that is,when the lift is being lowered. The gear train-B8, I00, I-04-and I06maybe suitably enclosed :byameans of thehousing I94,- andthe pulleys I48 and I52 and the centrifugal-brake may likewise be enclosed inaihousing I95.

In operation of this form-of lift, let it be assumed that the carriageis in lowered position and a -vehicle, such asan automobile, has beenrolled between the frames 20 of the member 38 so that thespacedumembers-52-of the carriage 30 are disposed. in proper positionbeneath thevehicle. Themotorswitch -I58 may then be closed by means of'theieverI62, and operation-of the motor causes rotation of the shaft I08'throughthe pulleys I52 and I48, and the belt I50. Rotation of the-shaftIOB:causes rotation of the shaft '88 through-the ggear train 405, I04, I00and 98, thus causing rotation of "the drums 86. Rotation of the.drums-86min wind the cables 84 around said drums, drawing the carriagetoward the left as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, to cause the carriage tomove up the inclined members 26 and 66.

The carriage will move upwardly until the rollers 44 andv 62 .arerespectively received on the portions 30 and 68, atwhich time the leverI02 may'be manually operated toswitch open position, or theraxle 60mayopenthe switch by engagement andmovement of the member I64. At thattime the hook 90 will engage the axle and tubular member vIiIl- -18 toprevent accidental lowering ofnthe carriage.

When it is desired to lower the carriage, and in the event that.theimotor I54 is not a reversible motor, which of course would permitof a cheaper construction being used, the latch. 90 is lifted by thelever 92 and the hand wheel I I4 is rotated to 'slacken the cables 84byrotation of the shaft 88 by means of the gear train I05, I04, I00 and98. Too rapid downward movement of the carriage 3-5 is checked by thecentrifugal brake because, if the carriage moves downwardly too quickly,the shaft 88 will cause rotation ofthe shaft I08 to cause the lever'I14to move in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot I 12, thuscausing the brake shoe I 92 to engage the brake drum I66.

the event it isdesired to stop the carriage at any point, the brakelever MG may be operated to completely arrest rotative movement of theshaft I08 through the brake band I34 and the brake drum I32. The shaftmay be locked in any position by meansof the pawl H8 by moving said pawlinto engagement with the ratchet H6 in a manner already described.

It is to be understood that we do not wish'to be limited by the exactembodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustrationand not limitation as various and other forms of the device will ofcourse be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed:

1. In a lift, the combination of spaced pairs of track members, each ofsaid track members having parallel inclined tracks, each inclined atsubstantially the same angle, each track terminating at its highestpoint with a portion of less angularity than said first named angle, thetrack members of one pair of said track members being spaced apart agreater distance than the track members of the other ofsaid pair, acarriage, anti-friction members adjacent each end of said carriagedisposed to be moved along said tracks, operating mechanism disposed onone of said pairs of track members for moving said carriage along saidtracks to raised or lowered position, said operating mechanism includingactuating means, a shaft driven by said actuating means for controllingmovement of said carriage, and a centrifugal brake operative to reducethe speed of said shaft when said actuating means is inoperative.

2. In a lift, the combination of spaced pairs of track members, each ofsaid track members having parallel inclined tracks, each inclined atsubstantially the same angle, each track terminating at its highestpoint with a portion of less angularity than said first named angle, acarriage, anti-friction members adjacent each end of said carriagedisposed to be moved along said tracks, operating mechanism disposed onone of said pairs of track members for moving said carriage along saidtracks to raised or lowered position, said operating mechanism includingactuating means, a shaft driven by said actuating means for controllingmovement of said carriage, a brake member for checking the downwardmovement of said carriage, means for preventing movement of said shaftand to maintain said carriage in any selected position on said tracks,and means adapted to be actuated by said carriage for rendering saidactuating means inoperative when said carriage is moved to apredetermined position.

3. In a lift, the combination of spaced pairs of track members, each ofsaid track members having parallel inclined tracks, each inclined atsubstantially the same angle, each track terminating at its highestpoint with a portion of less angularity than said first named angle, thetrack members of one pair of said track members being spaced apart agreater distance than the track members of the other of said pair, acarriage, anti-friction members adjacent each end of said carriagedisposed to be moved along said tracks, operating mechanism disposed onone of said pairs of track members for moving said carriage along saidtracks to raised or lowered position, said operating mechanism includingactuating means, a shaft driven by saidactuating means for controllingmovement of said carriage, a brake member forchecking the downwardmovement pf said carriage, means for preventing movement of said shaftand to maintain said carriage in any selected position on said tracks,and means'adaptedto be actuated by said carriage forrendering saidactuating means inoperative when said carriage is moved'to a predetermined position. i 4. In a lift, the combination of spaced pairs oftrack members, 'each'of said track members having parallel inclinedtracks, each inclined at substantially the same angle, each trackterminating at its highest point 'witha portion of less angularitythansaid first named angle, a carriage, anti-friction members adjacent eachend of said carriage disposed to be'moved along said tracks, operatingmechanism disposed on one of said pairs of track members for moving saidcarriage along said tracks to raised or lowered position, said operatingmechanism including actuating means; a shaft driven by said actuatingmeans for controlling movement of said carriage, a brake member forchecking the downward movement of said carriage, and means'adapted to beactuated by said carriage for rendering said actuating means inoperativewhen said carriage is moved to a predeterminedposition.

5. In a' lift; the combination of spaced pairs of track members, each ofsaid track members having parallel inclined tracks, each inclined atsubstantially thesame angle, each track terminating-at its highest pointwith a portionof less angularity than said first named angle, the trackmembers of one pair of said track members being spaced aparta greaterdistance than the track members of the other of said pair, a carriage,anti-friction members adjacent each end of said carriage disposed to bemoved along said tracks, operating mechanism disposed on one of saidpairs of track members for moving said carriage along said tracks toraised or lowered position, said operating mechanism including actuatingmeans, a shaft driven by said actuating means for controlling movementof said carriage, a brake member for checking the downward movement ofsaid carriage, and means adaptedto be actuated by said carriage forrendering said actuating means inoperative when said carriage is movedto a predetermined position.

6. In a lift, the combination of spaced pairs of track members, each ofsaid track members having parallel inclined tracks, each inclined atsubstantially the same angle, each track terminating at its highestpoint with a portion of less angularity than said first named angle, acarriage, anti-friction members adjacent each end of said carriagedisposed to be moved along said tracks, operating mechanism disposed onone of said pairs of track members for moving said carriage along saidtracks to raised or lowered position, said operating mechanism includingactuating means, a shaft driven by said actuating means for controllingmovement of said carriage,

a brake member for checking the downward ing; at itsrhig-hest rpoint:with :aa'; portion .of 1 less angularity than said first namedangle,-"-a carriage, anti-friction membersadjacent each end of saidcarriage *disposedto be moved'along said tracks, operating mechanism:disposed on one of said "pairs of ,trackmem'bers for moving-saidcarriage along said tracks to raised or'lowered position, said operatingmechanism including actuating means, axshaft driven byisaid actuatingmeans for controlling movement of, said carriage,a'brake member forchecking thedownward movement of said carriage, means adapted to beactuated by said carriage forrenderin'g said actuating means inoperativewhen said carriage is moved to a predetermined position, and means forreleasably holding said carriage in said predetermined position.

8. In a lift, the combinationxof spaced pairs of trackxmembers, each ofsaid. track members having parallel inclined tracks, each inclined atsubstantially the same angle, ,:each track terminating at its highestpoint' with a portion of less angularitythan said first :named angle,the track members of one-pair of said track members beingspaced-apart.agreater distance than the track members of the other ofsaid pair, a carriage, anti-friction members adjacent each end of saidcarriage disposed to be moved along said tracks, operating mechanismdisposed'on oneof said pairs oftrack membersvfor movin said carriagealong said tracks toraisedor lowered position, said operating mechanismincludingactuating means, -a shaft driven by .said actuating means ,forcontrolling movement of said carriage, a brake member for checking thedownward movement of said carriage, .means adapted to be actuated bysaid carriage for rendering said actuating means inoperative when saidcarriage is moved to a predetermined position, and means for releasablyholding saidcarriage in said predetermined position.

9.'in-.- a lift, the, combination ofspacedpairs of track members, eachof said track members having parall'efinclined tracks, each inclined atsubstantially the same angle, each track terminating at its highestpoint with a portion of less angularity than said first named angle, acarriage, anti-friction members adjacent each end of said carriagedisposeclto be moved along said tracks, operatingmechanism disposed onone of said pairs-of track' members for moving said carriage-alongsaidtracks to raised or lowered position, said operating mechanismincluding actuating means, a shaft driven by said actuating means forcontrolling movement of said carriage, and means adapted to be actuatedby said carriage for rendering said actuating means inoperative whensaid carriage is moved to a predetermined position.

'10. In a lift, the combination of spaced pairs of track members, eachof said track members having parallel inclined tracks, each inclined atsubstantially the same angle, each track terminating-at its highestpoint with a portion of less angularitythan said first named ang1e,'a'carriage, anti-friction members adjacent each end of said carriagedisposed to'bemoved along said tracks, operating mechanism disposed onone of said pairs of track-members for moving said'carriage along saidtracks to raised or lowered position, said operating mechanism includingactuating means, a shaft driven by said actuating meansforcontrollingmovement of said carriage, means adapted to be actuated bysaid carriage for rendering said actuating means inoperative when saidcarriage is moved to a predetermined position, and means for releasablyholding said carriage in said predetermined position.

IRVING C. THOMPSON, FREDERICK W. STURM.

